It was her choice to tell them the truth. I knew she was doing it in part for the sake of Ricci’s other children, who were now under our care. In order for the girls to accept them as their brother’s siblings, they have to know at least some of the truth, ugly as it is. My children were hurting, the twins in tears, and Gabe sitting silently and watching. And my wife, well, I haven’t seen her this broken since the first day she told me the truth.
That’s because I’d spent every day since then making sure she had a smile on her face. I resent any philosophy that says this day had to come; it could’ve been avoided, should’ve been avoided, and yet, here we are. I took my daughter’s hand and tried to offer comfort, but she pulled away and ran to her brother’s side.
“Gabe?”
“Anna, sweetheart, I’m so sorry, but there’s more. There’s more I need to tell you two. Come, come sit here next to me.” Sofia’s soothing voice reached out to the girls who went to her side, Anna still looking back at her brother, who assured her with a nod of his head that all was fine.
I listened, reliving the horror as she told the story again, the same one she’d told me that day so long ago. I didn’t ask her to tell them the truth; if this is what she could live with, then so be it, besides. I rather spear my young daughters the details; it would break their hearts, just as it had mine, just as it had my son’s.
The room remained very still and very quiet once she was done until Anna stood up from her place by her mother’s side and went back to her brother, throwing her arms around him. I thought she would break down; everyone else in the room thought the same. She stopped in front of her brother and held still for a very long minute.
“This doesn’t leave this room. It’s never mentioned again; understood! If anyone mentions this again, I won’t let them off easy.” Anna looked around at all of us before turning back to Gabe. “You are my brother; you are Draco Russo’s son.” That’s my girl. His sisters love-bombed him with hugs and kisses.
“Wait, what about Natalia and Jr.? Where do they fit in, in all this?” Rosa looked from me to her mother, but it was Gabe who spoke.
“They’re his kids, my brother and sister. Natalia was hurt very badly by him and some others. I sent them here to get away from him. I hope you two will help me take care of them.”
“What do you mean hurt?” Poor Rosa, with the soft heart, she was already tearing up.
“You mean it’s true?”
“What do you mean, Anna?”
“Lance said he thinks she was hurt, but I thought…. I don’t know. I thought she was just putting on an act. You mean that vile man….”
“So, can you help me take care of her?”
“Sure, sure we can, right, Anna? We’ll help you. But where is he now, this…. man?”
“He’s dead!” I didn’t look at Gabe or Sofia when I said this, but I’m sure they both know the truth. Gabe because, well, he saw through Lyon’s bluff and Sofia because I never told her that he was dead, and she knows I would’ve had that been true.
“Girls, if you need to talk, we’re here.” We each hugged each other before Sofia went off with the girls, and Gabe and I stayed behind. “How are you, son? How do you feel? I hear you paid a visit to Fontane in prison. How’s he doing?”
“He’s fine, I guess. I went to ask for the whereabouts of Gianna’s mother’s wedding ring.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I was going to get her something extravagant, but then I decided that she’d probably prefer her mother’s rings instead.”
“And did he tell you?”
“I didn’t give him a choice.”
“You have them?”
“I do, yes.”
“Well, when do you plan to propose?”
“I sent them away to be reset.” I nodded my head in approval.
“So, how does it feel to be a dad?” It did my heart good that he could smile like that from the heart. There was even a boyishness to his grin that was never there before.
“It’s awesome, Poppa, awesome. I just wish I could be half the father you are. Then I’ll know my kids are in good hands.
“Thank you, son; I appreciate you saying that even though I haven’t felt that way lately.”
“You did nothing wrong, Poppa, nothing at all. I’m gonna go pick Lancelot up and get into some trouble; wanna come?”
“Who else is gonna bail you out?” We left the room laughing with my arm around his shoulders. All in all, I’ll say it went about as well as could be expected.